John Scheerens, project coordinator for Alaskan Dream Cruises, said Allen Marine Tours has been giving tours in Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan since the 1970s, yet this is really their first foray into overnight tours.

"It's long been a dream of the owners to enter the overnight genre and we're excited to enter this new opportunity," Scheerens said.

Scheerens said that as part of this venture, the company acquired two ships, the Spirit of Columbia and the Spirit of Alaska, from Cruise West shortly after that company folded. He said each of these ships holds roughly 72 passengers. Cruises will originate from Sitka. Cruise West, based out of Seattle, originated cruises from Anchorage, Juneau and, until 2010, Ketchikan.

The ships have been renamed the Admiralty Dream and the Baranof Dream.

Alaskan Dream Cruises will also use the Alaskan Dream, which Scheerens said holds around 40 passengers. He said this ship used to be called the Contessa, and before that, the Executive Explorer.

"We're an Alaskan company who is really glad to contribute to the local Alaskan economy," Scheeren said.

Editor's Note: The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Contact reporter Jonathan Grass at 523-2276 or at jonathan.grass@juneauempire.com.